An extension of the Two Towns Trail to Rotary Park and the bike and walking tracks further into town was officially opened by state Labor MP Harriet Shing on Friday.

ADVERTISEMENT

Recent upgrades to the Rotary Park playground were also celebrated.

The Linking Warragul’s Community Assets project involved the creation of a 600 metre shared cycle/footpath extension of the existing Two Towns Trail, which already covers seven kilometres between Warragul and Drouin.

“This project provides important links between Drouin and Warragul’s Water Rise estate, Rotary Park, the CBD and sporting infrastructure to the south,” Ms Shing said in a media release.

Labor invested $429,000 into the project to address a key missing link between residential and sporting facilities in the town’s south west and the rest of the town.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The 600 metre trail extension will provide a seamless connection for commuters to access Rotary Park and continue beyond the park, along existing pathway infrastructure to Warragul’s CBD,” Victoria’s Minister for Regional Development Jaala Pulford said in a media release.

Above: Chris Major speaking at the opening.

“Supporting projects like these is the aim of our $500 million Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund which will support major projects, create the jobs and industries of the future and build stronger regional communities.”

New park benches, bike racks, signage and playground equipment were installed as part of the project. The project also covered some landscaping works.

“The paths are increasingly popular with cyclists, dog walkers, runners and families and as the weather warms up, they make this part of Gippsland even easier to enjoy,” Ms Shing said.

In addition to the state funding, the Baw Baw Shire Council contributed $80,000 and the Warragul Rotary Club spent $40,000.

The opening included a formal plaque unveiling and speeches, as well as family activities, a BBQ and live music from Emily Murdica.

ADVERTISEMENT

Correction: this article originally incorrectly stated the connected sporting facility was Eastern Park. It is Western Park.